How would you characterize Nick Carraway?

Question

Is Nick Carraway an outsider, or is he one of them.

Answer 1

Nick Carraway can be characterized as observant, moral, and somewhat detached. As The Great Gatsby unfolds, Nick serves as both a participant and an observer of the events surrounding Jay Gatsby and the glamorous world of the 1920s Jazz Age. He has a keen eye for detail and provides the readers with a nuanced perspective on the lives of the characters. Nick often functions as the lens through which we see the extravagant parties, social gatherings, and the disillusionment that permeates the lives of the wealthy elite in the narrative.

Nick also possesses a strong sense of moral integrity. He is often seen as an ethical center amidst the decadence and shallowness of the characters he encounters. He sees through the fakeness of the wealthy and recognizes the hollowness beneath their lives. Nick becomes critical of the lavishness and the moral decay he witnesses, ultimately questioning the pursuit of the American Dream in that particular time period.

Additionally, Nick maintains a certain level of detachment from the events and characters he encounters. While he becomes involved in Gatsby's life, he remains relatively independent, observing the proceedings with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. This detachment allows Nick to offer a more impartial view of the events and contributes to his reliability as a narrator.

Answer 2

While there are myriad ways to take and answer this question, I might begin by saying/positing that Nick is an "unreliable narrator".